Last Friday, Sept. 11th, the City of Fort Bragg joined 5 other local groups to sue the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in effort to protect local industry and ecology. The lawsuit challenges the FERC  to create a long-term strategy for wave energy plans on the Pacific coast and mandate environmental impact studies.

The City of Fort Bragg was joined by fishing industry representatives, environmental groups, and the County of Mendocino in filing the lawsuit. The groups are united by a concern for ambiguous wave energy plans for coastal waters, which will have an economic impact on tourism & the seafood industry as well as affect the natural environment. They want information about energy development plans and want local stakeholders to have a voice in the process.

Once a booming harbor town, Fort Bragg has been heavily impacted by a decline in fishing over the last few decades and now industry and recreation are further threatened by more restriction under Schwarzenegger’s proposed Marine Life Protection Act. Local groups are gathering to organize against the initative on Sept. 26th. The “Take a Stand for Local Ocean Food!” concert and seafood tasting aims to inform the community and rally support. For more event info, click here.